Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil accepting the 2015 GPF Humanitarian Award (Photo Courtesy of Ron Soliman, Photojournalist)
GPF - VPS Healthcare Special Event on Accelerating Health Access
New York, May 5, 2015: The event highlighted philanthropic opportunities for addressing healthcare gaps, including quality of care issues, in developing countries, through innovative financing and partnerships. The Global Partnerships Forum and VPS Healthcare brought together leaders from the diplomatic community, private sector, civil society, and the UN system, to share perspectives on the role of the private sector and the importance of innovative public-private partnerships, in ensuring healthy lives.
We were also pleased to focus on the incredible contributions that VPS Healthcare has made to the world under the tireless and exceptionally generous leadership of Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil, Managing Director. VPS Healthcare is an integrated Healthcare provider with network of hospitals, chain of medical centers, pharmaceutical manufacturing and pharmacy retail across the MENA region. They view community awareness as their capital asset and their vision is to create sustainable community welfare model for different strata of the society.
The GPF was privileged to have Ali Velshi, a Host on Al Jazeera America, as the moderator of the evening. Throughout the entire event, Mr. Velshi expertly guided guests through the evening's programme, including his astute insights. Amir Dossal, the GPF's Chairman, provided a brief background of the work of the United Nations and the crucial role that partnerships will play in advancing the SDGs.
Dr. Charles Stanford, Senior Director, VPS Healthcare described the varied initiatives that Dr. Shamsheer has spearheaded at VPS, and his vast contributions to the world community.
We were honoured to hear from Her Excellency Ms. Lana Nusseibeh who is the Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations. H.E. stated the importance of health access, "Health determines our incomes, influence, education levels and can support our resilience".
The event was also graced with the presence of H.E. President José Ramos-Horta, Former President, Timor-Leste; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate; and Chair, UN High Level Independent Panel on Peace Operations. President Ramos-Horta emphasized that partnerships are essential to address the root causes of world issues.
Dr. Shamsheer Vayalil was presented with the 2015 Global Partnerships Forum Humanitarian award for his announcement of a donation of 50 Heart Surgeries to the United Nations. Upon his acceptance of the award Dr. Shamsheer spoke of his humble beginnings in business and how the best part of his success is that he no longer has to hesitate before taking action to help those suffering around the world. He thanked all of the distinguished speakers for inspiring him to continue his philanthropic work and was moved to increase his donation to the UN to 100 heart surgeries.
The GPF and VPS Healthcare was also exceptionally honoured to hear from H.E. Mr. Jean-Francis R. Zinsou, Permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations, H.E. Mr. Tete Antonio, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations, Ms. Kelly Abramson, Director, Penn Global Medicine, Dr. Prakash Masand, Chairman and CEO, Global Medical Education (GME), Dr. Aziza Shad, Director, Pediatric Hematology Oncology and BMT, Georgetown University Hospital, and Mr. Jean Victor Nkolo, Spokesperson for the President of the 69th session of the General Assembly.
To view video of the full event, please click here.